Saturday, October 26, 2013

Kingswood Park Ward Day of Service

Today was our ward's annual day of service. I didn't want to go. I almost didn't go. But, in the end, I did.

Sometimes, I look at service the wrong way. I just do. I wish I didn't, but I do. I look at the typical types of recipients and I get irritated. I judge. I question why. When I am in need of service in the same or a similar way, nobody thinks of me.

But, today, I looked at things in a different way.

Today, I looked at it as time to spend with my husband. If he could come home from working all night and go and spend 90 minutes helping someone because they needed it, without caring who it was, without knowing exactly what it was that he would be doing, well, then, I could get my big, fat butt out of bed after sleeping 7 hours and go help him.

I looked at it as an opportunity to get to know others in my ward better - because I've been struggling to feel like I fit in.

I looked at it as a form of exercise.

I looked at it in a non-judgmental way. I still wonder if I would have looked at it the same way if it had been for people who constantly ask for help, but never come to church, never try to do anything on their own, abuse the goodness, etc. But, I hope I learned more than that today.

I looked at it as following in the footsteps of Christ - who I'm striving to be more like.

So, I pulled my big, fat, butt (less 72.8 pounds from a year ago!!) out of bed, threw my hair into a ponytail, and put on my bright orange "I am beautiful...because I shine like the Son" t-shirt from last year's girls camp and went to the ward service day.

And you know what?

It was hot. I was sweaty. I was dirty. I have disgusting super stinky landfill sloshy barfy muck on my shoes.
But I feel good. I got exercise. I spent time with people from church who share the same values I do. I served two really old people who just couldn't clean up their yard anymore. Their yard looks awesome now. We took 15+ bags of rubbish to the dump and I stepped in who knows what muddy gross stuff. I have thorns in my shirt and pants. But, I got to spend time with Melon Man. I got to serve someone else. And, I served the Lord. I feel happy. Happier than I have felt in a long time.

Thomas S. Monson Said...

"With all the strength of my soul I testify that our Heavenly Father loves each one of us. He hears the prayers of humble hearts; He hears our cries for help. . . . His Son, our Savior and Redeemer, speaks to each of us today: 'Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him' (Revelation 3:20). Will we listen for that knock? Will we hear that voice? Will we open that door to the Lord, that we may receive the help He is so ready to provide? I pray that we will."

Henry B Eyring Said...

"I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done." As I have begun doing this in my own life I have witnessed the quiet beauty of recognizing the hand of the Lord in my life every day."

Neil A. Maxwell Said...

"When life is hard, remember - we are not the first to ask, 'Is there no other way?'"